(Closed) Head table or not?

I’m trying to decide whether I want to have a head table or not. I like the look of all the wedding party sitting together with their matching outfits and I like that I can sit close to and chat with friends. However, I can’t get over the fact that having the wedding party only sitting at a head table separates couples and even families. I feel like it would be rude of me to ask my friends to separate from their husbands, or even their children, just to sit at the dinner table with us. I’m just trying to think of how I would feel if I went to a wedding with my husband, didn’t know anyone, and had to sit at a table with strangers while he sat at the head table.

So, then I think that I’ll have the wedding party sit at various wedding party tables with their significant others and place them with either people they know or people they would have things in common with. That would leave my fiancé and I sitting at a “sweetheart table”. For some reason I just don’t like the idea of a sweetheart table. I just feel like it’s a little isolating. I mean isn’t that what the wedding night and honeymoon are for? The reception is a time to hang out with family and friends.

The other option I considered is the “Royal table” where it’s more communal and less of a display. I thought about having one big royal table with all our wedding party and their significant others. However, the problem with that is that I have a fairly large sized wedding party and a rather small wedding guest list. It would mean one really large wedding party table and only a few extra round tables. I think that might look strange.

We had a sweetheart table and it was really nice. My only critcism is that while everyone thought it was sweet that we wanted to enjoy our first meal alone they also thought this would be the ideal time to come have a conversation with us. It was really annoying. I didn’t mind taking photos, but just because your main hasn’t hit the table and you have time to kill, I don’t want to have 5 minute conversation while I watch my risotto get cold. That made me NUTS! I gave up and just started eating with people standing there talking to us, LOL!

What about eating with both of your parents and/or siblings? That way it’s a few less people than the royal table idea.

I’m going to be having a head table. We’re going to sit the partners of our party together at one table and hopefully they will mingle with each other. In my eyes, it’s just dinner and after that they get to spend the rest of the night with their gfs/bfs.

We’re doing a sweetheart table for bride and groom. Then, at two adjacent tables will be the wedding party and their dates/significant others. So the wedding party will still be close to us, but they’ll be free to eat with their dates. 🙂

we did not have a head table. we just had a few normal round tables to fit all our wedding party and their SO’s, plus some extra friends that we wanted to sit with. It was way easier that way and I don’t feel bad about puting some people at nearby tables, nobody really cares that much – esp the guys!

We did a sweetheart table and I really liked it. It was nice to have a few minutes at a time just the two of us. However, as bakerella stated – people did come up to us to chat, congratulate us or take pictures all through dinner. Good thing we were the first ones served!!! I would just continue eating with people right there!

Be kind to your your bridal party and do not have a head table! It’s really not fair to their significant others to have to sit with people they don’t know. Some people just are not comfortable around people they don’t know, and I know as a bridesmaid, I’d feel really uncomfortable and guilty leaving my boyfriend at a different table. Ultimately its your choice, but I think a sweetheart table is the best option.

We did a sweet heart table and definitely loved it. we liked the time alone and were happy our bridal party could sit with their SO’s and kids.

People did come up to talk to us, but we eliminated alot of the visits by visiting guest tables for toasting during dessert. this was normal for my family, so no one came up to talk as they knew we’d talk later when i would visit them.

Every wedding I have been to or in has had a head table. I have never minded not sitting with my FI when he was a groomsman and I don’t think he has minded not sitting with me when I’ve been a bridesmaid. If you want a head table, I say go for it! Like you said, it is only for dinner and the dates of your wedding party will more than likely be understanding and mingle amongst themselves.

We’re having a head table with a twist. I didn’t really like the idea of a sweetheart table, for the same reason as you. So we figured since only two members of our wedding party have SO’s, we would do away with tradition and just seat their SOs with them at the head table as well.

We are going to have a head table. Not all the wedding party will be at the head table, only bride n groom, maid of honor and best man, my parents an his parents. thats only 8 people…( I may add more people to my head table) the BMs and GMS will sit at another table. I did consider a sweetheart table but I’ve realized that people tend to keep coming to the table to interrupt the meal and talk to the couple when they are sitting at a sweetheart. When the couple sits at a head table surrounding by other people, guests are more likely to let you atleast finish your food before they come over. PLus its more intimidating for them to come to a long head table.

I think we’ve decided to do a big table for the wedding party & their dates… our wedding isn’t huge, either, so their won’t be that many tables. I also didn’t like the idea of separating the party from their dates/children, or having a sweetheart table. Even if it looks weird having fewer tables, I think it’ll be best.